ABC Wed Jul 11 07
The Mayor of Maroochy Shire on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, Joe Natoli, says it could be another 12 months before the CSIRO is able to undertake a flood modelling study in the Sunshine Coast region because the research body is under-funded.
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Bioregionalism - the place of the Slow Movement

The Slow Movement is all about connection, about things that matter, about understanding the interconnected nature of all things, and above all it is a moral movement. All these things are linked to bioregionalism.

Bioregionalism, along with the slow movement is gaining momentum in many Western countries. And just like the concept of ‘slow’, bioregionalism is not new  it has been around for millennia, we have a long but distant history of bioregionalism.BioregionAlong with our move to fast living we have moved away from the concept of bioregion to one of globalisation. If we are to live sustainably, in all senses of the word, it is now time to return to a bioregional lifestyle.

Despite its wide usage, the term ‘bioregionalism’ is difficult to define. It can mean different things to different people depending on which aspect of the term is important to them. In relation to slow food ie slow food production and consumption the emphasis is on creating sustainable foodsheds (a term coined to define geographic areas in much the same way as a watershed defines a specific area). Each of us lives in a unique physical, ecological, historical and cultural area. The boundaries of this area will differ slightly depending on which aspect of bioregionalism we are referring to,  its boundaries are often ridgetops rather than administrative or other arbitrary lines on a map.

In general terms bioregionalism refers to living a rooted, connected life - living with an awareness of the ecology, economy and culture of the place where you live, and making decisions that support and enhance these features. To enter the slow movement and live a connected life we can do some or all of the following:

Buy locally grown organic food, or locally made goods and services;

Buy goods and services that are made or offered by companies that are socially and environmentally responsible, and that have outlets close to our home;

Shop in locally owned shops rather than large chain retailers, or national or multinational outlets;

Meet, know and support neighbours;

Bank with institutions that invest in the local community, and that are preferably locally-owned and managed;

Reduce waste in all its forms, and knowing where waste goes, how it is processed or disposed;

Know where household water comes from and using it sparingly;

Understand previous human cultures from your area;

Be directly involved with the education of your children or your community’s children;

Know where your household electricity is produced and use alternative energy sources where possible;

Join a local community food system eg box scheme, community garden, community supported agriculture project, consumer group or cooperative, or buy your produce at a local farmers market; and

Structure meals so everyone in the family has the opportunity to connect to their food and others at the table  follow slow food practices.